Disclaimer: This post is based in my opinion and my past travel experiences.

Engagement is a very important event in our life.

What was the first thing that came into your mind after you said “yes”?

Overview: My engagement story in a nutshell

It was very predictable. Why? Well, after our first two years of dating, he would always ask me this: “What would you say if I propose to you?”

Then, I would always say that I am not yet ready and I would decline his proposal. After my answer, he would just change the topic right away.

When I finally said yes to that same question on the year that he proposed, he brought me into a jewelry store in Edmonton, Alberta.

I thought we were just shopping around but he paid for the ring on the same day. I was surprised! Haha! There is no turning back.

Fast forward to the future, I would like to share some tips with you on how we planned our engagement photo shoot.

2 main things to consider on how to plan your engagement photo shoot:

1. Set a budget – It is always good to sit down with your partner and talk about the expenses. Ignoring it might be a problem in the future.

2. Choose a destination – Once you set your budget, both of you can decide where you want to go. Keep in mind that you need to consider accommodation, food, and travel expenses if the location is outside the city.

Here are some examples of places where you can have your dream photo shoot:

a. The mountains or beside a lake – This is my first choice because this is where we had ours. It was an amazing experience and the views were incredible!

b. Inside or beside a mini forest – They say nature is the best therapy. My husband really like to spend a lot of time in the wilderness. As a result, we chose Emerald Lake which is located in Yoho National Park.

It does not have to be an actual forest. It can be in one of the parks or in a rural area near your place.

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c. Near a waterfall – We picked a location where there is a nearby waterfall. As a result, we were able to save time from traveling to another location within the designated time.

Keep in mind that photographers does not have all day unless you pay them.

6 other things to consider on how to plan your photo shoot:

1. Choose a photographer – Firstly, make sure to look for a photographer that has the right specialization (weddings & engagement or more).

Secondly, check their portfolios and how they take photos of their subjects.

Then, get in touch with the photographer by e-mail to check their rates and schedule. If it aligns with your budget, book a date right away as wedding and engagement seasons are their busiest time of the year. In addition, some photographers have part-time jobs so they would have to arrange their schedules as well.

2. Choose your attire – What is your engagement theme?

What type of a couple are you?

What do you like to wear?

These are some of the questions that you should ask your partner. Make sure that your partner’s clothes align with what you are going to wear.

3. Choose your footwear – I am a comfortable and fashionable bride. I brought two shoes on the day of the shoot.

Luckily, our photographers were local so they already know what kind of shoes to wear. I was wearing a long gown and they saw me changing from my running shoes to my high heels. Meanwhile, she asked if my gown was long enough to cover my feet and I said yes. Then, she advised me not to wear heels while walking as we are going to do a short hike from the parking lot.

I am glad I took her advice as it would have slowed us down if I was wearing high heels.

4. Check the weather

We booked our photo shoot during the month of June but it rained on the same day. Therefore, we rescheduled it to July. It was a warm and sunny day.

I recommend doing your photo shoots in July and August if you prefer a warm and sunny weather. Make sure that your photographer/s have a refund policy about cancellation and weather changes. In our case, the change of schedule was free!

Most photographers have a security deposit and some are non-refundable. It is to secure your spot in their precious schedules.

5. Plan your hair and make-up – Do you think I was wearing any make-up? The answer is no.

I prefer natural beauty so I only put my red lipstick that day. On the other hand, every bride is different so do what makes you comfortable and happy.

6. Have fun! – Most importantly, do not forget to enjoy the moment.

In short, you will only do it once in your life so have fun!

Thank you for reading this blog post! I hope you enjoy our photos and see you on my next blog!

Do you want to know more about me? Read it here.

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